How Cubs lineup can improve in clutch situations
The Cubs’ woes with runners in scoring position are no secret.
Entering Wednesday, the team ranked in the bottom 8 in baseball in batting average (.217) and OPS (.686) with runners in scoring position.
So, how do the Cubs break out of that funk?
Former All-Star and Silver Slugger Carlos Peña broke down some keys to finding success in that department on Cubs Live! with Cole Wright on Wednesday. For Peña, it comes down to three key points:
- Pick a Speed
- Pick a pitch shape
- Pick a location
Peña emphasized the importance of staying with that approach in those situations. Often times, he says, players can trust their skills a little too much, and that can lead to bad at-bats or decisions.
“Go hunt for a pitch, be on time to hit, try not to overthink it because that’s also a problem,” Peña said.
The duo looked at some at-bats in Tuesday’s loss where there wasn’t success, some situations where the team thrived and one in a two-out situation.
Watch the full segment above.